Our 9-1-1 center is equipped with specialized teletype devices (TDD) that allow us to communicate with callers via text tones relayed over the phone line. All of our 9-1-1 operators are trained to use this equipment, ensuring that everyone gets the help they need.
* Please Note: Our center is not able to receive or transmit text messaging via cellular phone service.

Stay on the line until the call is answered, then let operator know that there is no emergency. If you hang up prematurely, we must call you back and expend time that could be spent helping those with an actual emergency.

Usually, yes.
However, every day residents and visitors use phone systems that are not capable of providing 9-1-1 with their exact location. These Phone systems are in schools, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, government facilities, ATM locations, businesses and other large complexes and buildings. Multi-line telephone systems, found in voice over internet protocol (VoIP), private branch exchange (PBX), or Key Centrex systems, often give 9-1-1 centers only the address and phone number of the central location within the system, often the main office or billing address. That location may be in another building, another location across town, another city, or even another state.

If you are calling from a cell phone, it is important to provide your location and phone number to the operator. Even though we may have a general idea of where you are, cell phones do not pinpoint your location like a landline phone does.

This is an administrative process documenting a prisoner’s entrance into the jail. The process includes collecting information such as the person’s name, address, reason for the arrest, criminal charge (s), and inventorying personal property. A photograph and fingerprints are taken as well.

An arraignment is a formal meeting between a judge and a prisoner. The judge informs the prisoner of his or her charge(s), reads the prisoner his or her rights, and advices the prisoner of the bond amount.

Arraignments are generally held twice daily, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., but can occur at alternate times to accommodate magistrate schedules. There will only be one arraignment on weekends and holidays.

The City of Richardson assigns a monetary value for time spent in jail for a City of Richardson Class C misdemeanor ticket or warrant. A municipal judge determines jail credit as regulated by state law.

Have your Incident number (sometimes called a Case number or a Report number) available. If you were not provided with one by the Patrol officer, provide the complainant’s name, what type of case it is, when it occurred and where.

The officer’s investigation exhausted all reasonable leads that would identify the suspect(s) and/or aid in the recovery of any stolen property at that time, but should additional information be developed, you will be contacted. If you have any additional information regarding the investigation, please contact the Police Department.
3.When will I be notified on the status of my case?

If your case is assigned to a detective, you should be notified within a couple of days (excluding weekends and holidays). If your case is not assigned to a detective, you should received a letter.

While a growing percentage of identifying information is obtained with computers and other high tech means, the compromise of most identifying information can be prevented by simple crime prevention techniques.

Remove all valuable items from your vehicle. This includes checks, credit cards, laptops, PDAs, computer disks, and any paperwork with your information printed on it.
Reason: Vehicle burglaries are one of the most frequent ways for an identity thief to obtain your information.

Keep your passwords and PINs in a secure location.
Reason: If your purse or wallet is stolen, you have given the thief everything they need to access your financial data.

All requests for police services are assigned to priority based on the seriousness of the incident and the potential for injury or damage to property. At times, calls of a less urgent nature must be delayed so that we can respond immediately to emergencies.

The Police department depends on citizens calling to report crimes or suspicious activity. The Public Safety Telecommunicator in Dispatch who takes your call will ask questions about the activity to determine its nature and ask for descriptions of the people involved. You will be asked for certain information to help the dispatcher advise the officer of the type and location of the call. Your cooperation will help make the dispatcher's job as efficient as possible in our mission to provide you with service.

Public Safety Communicators are trained to try to get as much information as possible to best determine the nature of the problem and its seriousness. On emergency calls, the Public Safety Communicator has already sent the information to the dispatcher while asking additional questions.

We fingerprint individuals on Saturdays starting at 9:00 a.m. and ending promptly at 11:00 a.m. We do not fingerprint on major holidays. The cost is $10 per person. We accept cash only. An official photograph identification card with signature is required. In addition, you need to bring your own fingerprint cards. We can give you a State of Texas Applicant fingerprint card. However, if the entity requiring you to be fingerprinted, does not accept this type of card, you assume all responsibility for obtaining a new set of prints on the proper card. Contact the agency or entity that is requiring you to be fingerprinted for more details about which type of fingerprint card is required. It is a first come, first serve operation.

Because of the potential for damage to vehicles the Police Department does not open locked vehicles. A locksmith is your best alternative. If a child is locked inside the vehicle, the Fire Department will send a rescue unit to remove the child from the vehicle, possibly by breaking a window.

The Police Department will send an officer to keep the peace and prevent violence while you retrieve your belongings. Call the police from a public telephone near to where your belongings are, and an officer will go to the house with you.

The Police Department dispatch center does not have the names of persons involved in accidents available until later when accident reports are turned in. If a person is injured in an accident and unable to call themselves, we will notify their family.

The Information desk provides answers or referrals for any questions regarding police procedures and common legal problems. The Information desk also has information about any vehicles towed by the Police Department. The telephone number for the Information Desk is 972-744-4800.

You may click here or come down to the police station at 140 North Greenville Avenue to complete a "House Watch Form. "Your home will then be checked by uniformed Police Volunteers on a time permitting basis. Ideally this will be 2-3 times per week. Be sure to notify the Police if you return earlier than scheduled.

The watch is intended to be used on a temporary basis on occupied homes. It is not intended to be used with vacant rent homes, vacant homes offered for sale, homes where the owners split residency between two different locations, or homes where the owner may be in a convalescent care facility.

Animal Control is the city agency responsible for calls involving dogs and cats. Their number is 972-744-4481. After Shelter hours (8 PM-12 Midnight Monday through Friday and weekends from 6 PM to 12 Midnight) contact the Richardson Police Department and they will dispatch an animal control officer.

The police may tow away only those vehicles abandoned on public property. As a property owner you may contact a wrecker service in your area and work out arrangements to have vehicles which were illegally abandoned on your property removed. The wrecker service should then contact the Police Department to advise that the vehicle was removed so that should the owner return for the vehicle, it will not be reported as stolen.

Yes, calls to 911 on a cellular telephone are free. Do not try to pursue the drunk driver or place yourself in any danger. When you call you will be asked for the description of the car, where it is, and the direction it is going. Try to copy the license plate number.

Parents have been afforded several rights and duties by the legislature. This information can be found in the Texas Family Code, namely chapter 151.001. In this document, the parent has “the duty of care, protection, and reasonable discipline of the child”. A police officer does not posses the legal ability to discipline a child, nor does discipline fall within the scope of their involvement in the referral process. While the officers of Richardson Police Department support parents in the proper development of their children, their involvement will be limited to the actual statutory ability and the protection of the all parties involved.

To possess TOBACCO you must be 18 years of age or older.
To possess ALCOHOL you must be 21 years of age or older.
A child can be reported as a RUNAWAY until his/her 18th birthday.
Upon their 17th birthday, they are no longer handled by the Juvenile Justice System.

Dallas County Juvenile Detention
(For M/B and above charges)
2600 Lone Star Drive
Dallas, TX
Near I-30 and Hampton Road
214-698-2200 Letot Shelter
(For Runaways and M/C Charges)
10525 Denton Drive
Dallas, TX
Just North of Lombardy
214-352-8134 (Intake)
214-352-6489 (Counseling) Collin County Juvenile Detention
4300 Community Blvd
McKinney, TX 75070
Just north of the Adult Jail
West side of US75, north of McKinney
1-972-547-5410
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